Recommended Books

The Invisible Gorilla by Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons

Professors of Psychology Chabris and Simons write about six everyday illusions of perception and thought, including the beliefs that: we pay attention more than we do, our memories are more detailed than they are, confident people are competent people, we know more than we actually do, and our brains have reserves of power that are easy to unlock. Through a host of studies, anecdotes, and logic, the authors debunk conventional wisdom about the workings of the mind and what "experts" really know (or don't). Chabris and Simons are not against intuition, "...but we don't think it should be exalted above analysis without good evidence that it is truly superior."

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us…by Daniel Pink

According to Daniel Pink (A Whole New Mind), everything we think we know about what motivates us is wrong. He pits the latest scientific discoveries about the mind against the outmoded wisdom that claims people can only be motivated by the hope of gain and the fear of loss. Pink cites a dizzying number of studies revealing that carrot and stick can actually significantly reduce the ability of workers to produce creative solutions to problems. What motivates us once our basic survival needs are met is the ability to grow and develop, to realize our fullest potential.

Using Your Brain for a Change by Richard Bandler

Richard Bandler, known for his development of Neuro Lingustic Programming with fellow partner John Grinder, has stepped alone to write this wonderfully self therapeutic style book, from his uses and experiences in NLP and hypnosis training from master Milton Erickson. There is nothing your brain cannot accomplish, and Bandler provides the steps to take you to levels of brain development that you have not begun to think about...yet. In Using Your Brain for a Change, you are now in control of what you think, and how you think of life, concentrating all of your past miseries into one moment and then having it disappear to refocus your energy into the moment which we call the 'now'. A powerful book for anyone looking to change the way they see reality

Change Your Mind and Keep the Change by Steve Andreas

This advanced NLP book builds on the foundation established in Heart of the Mind, by the Andreases, and Using Your Brain—for a CHANGE, by Richard Bandler. Presented in "live seminar" format, this book offers rich information and specific examples of how to work successfully in helping people change. Specific methods are presented for changing habits, for congruently finally saying "no" when that is appropriate, eliminating compulsions, building self-concept, becoming more self-referenced and less vulnerable to others' opinions, utilization of timelines and time frames for planning and motivation, shifting the relative importance of criteria/values, and much more.

What’s Your Genius? by Jay Niblick

Niblick has taken on the tremendous responsibility of transforming cultural attitudes about work and achievement that have been in place for more than a century, while simplifying the exhaustive academic legwork that legitimizes the importance of individual authenticity. He introduces easy-to-implement strategies for not only attaining that sense of real accomplishment we all long for in life, but also truly profound understanding of who we really are at our core. What's Your Genius will make the difference between mediocrity and excellence; the difference between 'just getting by' and really thriving instead. It's the psychological and emotional edge that will help us create better lives not only for ourselves, but also for everyone that we influence in our global community. ~ Anthony Robbins, Author of New York Times Bestselling, Awaken The Giant Within.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change was a groundbreaker when it was first published in 1990, and it continues to be a business bestseller with more than 10 million copies sold. Stephen Covey, an internationally respected leadership authority, realizes that true success encompasses a balance of personal and professional effectiveness, so this book is a manual for performing better in both arenas. Before you can adopt the seven habits, you'll need to accomplish what Covey calls a "paradigm shift"--a change in perception and interpretation of how the world works. Covey takes you through this change, which affects how you perceive and act regarding productivity, time management, positive thinking, developing your "proactive muscles" (acting with initiative rather than reacting), and much more. --Joan Price

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

This classic on the what constitutes leadership is a must-read. John Maxwell has been learning and teaching leadership throughout his entire career as a and seminar speaker. He lives and breathes leadership. And in this book he has distilled the art of leadership into 21 basic laws.

Harvard Business Review: 10 Must Reads on Leadership

HBR's 10 Must Reads paperback series is the definitive collection of books for new and experienced leaders alike. Leaders looking for the inspiration that big ideas provide, both to accelerate their own growth and that of their companies, should look no further.

The Truth About Leadership: No Fads, Heart-of-the-Matter Facts you Need to Know By Barry Z. Posner

A fresh look at what it means to lead from two of the biggest names in leadership
In these turbulent times, when the very foundations of organizations and societies are shaken, leaders need to move beyond pessimistic predictions, trendy fads, and simplistic solutions. They need to turn to what's real and what's proven. In their engaging, personal, and bold new book, Kouzes and Posner reveal ten time-tested truths that show what every leader must know, the questions they must be prepared to answer, and the real-world issues they will likely face.

To all those wondering "Why?" and "How?" certain organizations are more productive than their peers, Logan, King and Fischer-Wright have some concrete answers. In their landmark book, "Tribal Leadership", they explore the essence of organizational culture. What they have uncovered is a dynamic at least 15,000 years in the making, and at the heart of all human organizations: the tribe. We operate in a "tribe"-a group of 20 to 150 people- in which important decisions are made and productivity is determined. Larger organizations are "tribes of tribes".

True North: Discover Your Authentic Leadership by Bill George

This book is for people who care deeply about being leaders, true to themselves, and focused on creating a positive impact. By analyzing over a hundred of the world's most resourceful leaders in every field and of every age, the authors give the reader a sense of companionship on the journey of life. True North makes you comfortable in your own skin, while pushing you to be a better you, rather than to be things that you are not. We learn that leadership is sustainable when it is built on authentic values and passions, not just ambition and competence.

The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the Leadership Powered Company By Ram Charan, Stephen Drotter and James Noel

One of management's biggest challenges is finding new leaders, and one of the questions that arises in this quest is whether to bring in "new blood" and fresh ideas or take advantage of "home-grown" experts already acclimated to an organization's corporate culture. The current labor shortage and a greater willingness by younger workers to change jobs have only added to this challenge. Recent books such as High Flyers: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders (1998) and Hidden Value: How Great Companies Achieve Extraordinary Results with Ordinary People [BKL Ag 00] have weighed in on the side of "growing your own," and now Charan and his coauthors add their support. Charan is a "leadership coach" and has written extensively for academic and popular business journals.